Kinematics and Origin of Gas in the Disk Galaxy NGC 2655

Abstract—The new observational data concerning distribution, excitation, and kinematics of the ionized gas in the giant early-type galaxy NGC 2655 obtained at the 6m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory (SAO RAS) and at the 2.5 m telescope of the Caucasian Mountain Observatory (CMO SAI MSU) are presented in this work. The joint analysis of these and earlier spectral observations has allowed us to make a conclusion about multiple nature of the gas in NGC 2655. Together with a proper large gaseous disk experiencing regular circular rotation in the equatorial plane of the stellar potential of the galaxy for billions years, we observe also remnants of a merged small satellite having striked the central part of NGC 2655 almost vertically for some 10 million years ago.